Fence post



FENCE POST Filed Jan. 23. 1931 59,6. zgzff V9 oooocooooaaouoooo non I o o @l am MN' GOOD00000a0000000OOOUOOUOOUDOOQOOOOOGOOO AT E1-5.

Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NED A. OCHILTREE, 0F PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WILLIAM H. SOMMER, OF TEORIA, ILLINOIS FENCE POST Application led January 23,A 1931. Serial No. 510,620.

This invention relates to fence posts and more particularly to metallic drive fence posts.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a metallic fence post which may be driven into and anchored in the ground and which is formed in such a manner as to give maximum strength and is provided with means for securing wire or fencing against the postin such, a manner as to prevent displacement thereof 'and in such a manner that will not 'vealren the post nor increase its weight per oot.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a post having the features above mentioned which is capable of being manufactured in large quantities at a reasonable cost.

It is a still further object of this inven. tion to provide a post of this character which will occupy a minimum amount of space and which may be stacked closely.

Heretofore it has been the practice to provide a post of circular, L or T cross section and provided with projections which serve as supports or at least limiting stops against which the fence Wire and the securing or tie wire rests or to drill or otherwise provide a post with apertures through which the fence wire or securing wire passed. The former method frequently resulted in projections which increased the Weight per foot without increasing the| strength. In some instances the projections constituted additional metal projecting beyond the average contour line of the post. Projections of this character often prevented or at least hindered close stacking of the posts. In the -latter method, that is, Where indentations were employed instead of projections the indentations'weakened the post, particularly if the post was appertured indiscriminately.

In accordance with this invention the post is preferably although not necessarily in the form of a reinforced T in cross section which is in eect a modified I section and is provided with apertures through which the securing wires may pass. y

In order to accomplish the latter feature of this invention, the post is provided with the desired number of apertures therethrough arranged along' the neutral axis of the post, that is, along the imaginary line between that portion of the metal which is under tension and that which is under compression due to transverse bending movements of the fence. It is, of course, apparent that the most destructive strains or forces upon a fence post are those forces in a direction transverse to the line of fence. The neutral axis chosen is therefore the vertical line with respect to these forces.

A better understanding of this invention will be obtained from the following description given in connection with the drawing 1n which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a post embodying the features of this invention,

Fig 2 is a side elevation of a post embodying the features of this invention,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fractional side elevation illustrating the manner of securing the fence wire tothe post,

Fig. 4 is a section on line 1 -4 of Flg. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of one of the clamp wires,

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a post, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a post.

As can be seen from the drawing, with particular' reference toFigs. l to 7 inclusive, the post illustrated is generally T-shape in cross section having a flange or head portion l and a reinforced web portion 2 terminating in a bead or narrow flange 3 which in effect gives the post a modified I section. The post is adapted to be driven into the ground. When in position the fence or fence wire 6 is strung along the outer fiat surface of the head or flange l and is secured thereto by a clamp or bail wire 7.

The post web 2 is drilled or otherwise provided with a desired number ofvapertures 8 through which the securing wires 7 are passed. These apertures 8 are arranged in alignment and spaced relatively to each other in any desired spacing, the center of each aperture, however, lies on the neutral axis 9 of the post. The neutral axis selected is, of course, the axis neutral to forces transverse to the line of fencing or transverse to the outer surface of the head or ange..

The apertures being aligned along this neutral axis will not cause the removal of any substantial amount of metal Which is under compression or tension due to disruptive forces in a direction transverse to the line of fencing and will, therefore, not weaken the postto any substantial degree.

It is obvious that although the manner of securing the fence wire to the post is illustrated in conjunction with a particular shaped post which has particular strength and in combination with the manner of securing the fence Wire thereto provides an extremely rigid fence. The theory and principles of the manner of securing the fence to the post apply to any post regardless of its cross section.

It is also apparent that other changes in detail may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

l. A metallic fence post T-shaped in cross section, the head portion thereof being adapted to engage and support a fence Wire, the web portion thereof being of substantially uniform dimension throughout the length thereof and apertured to receive securing wires7 the centers of said apertures being on the neutral axis of said post with respect to forces that may be applied to said'post transversely to said head portion.

2. A metallic fence post T-shaped in cross section, the head portion thereof being adapted to engage and support a fence Wire, the web portion thereof being of substantially uniform dimension throughout the length thereof and apertured to receive securing wires, said apertures being substantially on the neutral axis of said post With respect to forces that may be applied to said post transversely to said head portion.

In Witness of the foregoing I aliix my signature.

NED A. CHILTREE. 

